Living Faith is a Christian blog that interacts with a variety of biblical, theological and practical topics written by Grand Canyon University's College of Theology faculty and specially invited guests of the college. Our content provides practical and biblical advice from a Christian worldview for living our faith in the midst of an increasingly secularized world. In addition, our content wrestles with cultural topics and issues that challenge how we live out our faith as believers. For this reason, contributors to our Christian blog strive to write with compassion and apologetic concern to honor Christ and edify the church in every way possible.

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“Love” is an incredibly flexible term used to describe feelings as different as loyalty to a football team (“I love the Cardinals”), enjoyment of food (“I love pizza”) and affection for others (“I love my spouse”). But the Bible insists that Christian love is a particular sort of love rooted in a deep and absolute commitment to the God who lovingly made us in his image. Moreover, when one truly loves God, he or she will inevitably love their neighbors as well, whether friend, family member or foe.

Grand Canyon Theological Seminary (GCTS) is an evangelical institution within an interdenominational university, which affords students a unique opportunity to study in a context shaped by Christian unity and denominational diversity.

Grand Canyon University is committed to living out our faith within the context of a missional community, while being clear about our identity as a Christian university and our foundational convictions. Nonetheless, the seminary represents a unique, covenantal community embedded within the larger institution.

As the standard degree for ordained professional ministry, the Master of Divinity (MDiv) is designed to train students who are called to serve in local churches, Christian organizations and other ministerial settings.

Because the MDiv is a pastorally oriented degree, one of the primary objectives is to train competent expositors and teachers of the Scriptures. Thus, the biblical languages are an important component of any MDiv program.

Seminary students will be wise to prepare faithfully for ministry in a way that does not disqualify them from service after graduation. This preparation will require attention to the academic, spiritual and professional aspects of ministerial training. This will also require careful attention to one’s life and doctrine during what may be a lengthy season of preparation.

Grand Canyon Theological Seminary equips scholars, ministers and Christian leaders within the context of a denominationally diverse environment that is shaped by an interdenominational mission and vision.

The faculty includes representatives from more than a dozen denominational traditions that span the evangelical spectrum. Likewise, the student body reflects a similar diversity of religious heritage and experience.

Christians tend to be passionate about their convictions – and rightfully so.

Unfortunately, passionate conviction sometimes generates more heat than light and leaves the impression that we are a quarrelsome people who are prone to fighting over minor details.

The book of Jude commands us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3), but this does not negate other biblical teaching that reminds us that “the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil” (2 Tim 2:24).

No other environment offers quite the same opportunity to cultivate unity with fellow Christians as the local church. It is easy to speak of unity theoretically and in isolation from others. It is another thing altogether to speak of unity when dealing with real human beings who are working out their salvation in community with others who have not yet been perfected.

Grand Canyon Theological Seminary develops Christian leaders, ministers and scholars in partnership with local churches. This process requires meaningful church involvement on the part of students.

Grand Canyon Theological Seminary (GCTS) exists under the auspices of the College of Theology (COT) as well as the larger university within which the college is situated.

In addition to several other departments, GCU features nine colleges that are embedded within the larger university. These colleges provide education in specific academic areas. Among them is COT, which represents a unique covenantal community that provides all theological training at university.

The new Grand Canyon Theological Seminary (GCTS) is the College of Theology’s graduate school; the goal of the seminary is to ground you in biblical truth and sound theology. This includes helping you to make vital connections between the gospel and the church, which must be understood as a pillar and buttress of the truth.

If you are interested in learning more, here are some answers to frequently asked questions about GCTS:

From its start in 1949, Grand Canyon University has developed a strong reputation as a premier Christian institution of higher learning.

During the course of its rich history, GCU has graduated leaders in fields such as education, nursing, business, fine arts and Christian studies. With the advent of its graduate programs in theology nearly six years ago and steady growth in student enrollment, it was nearly inevitable that GCU would one day create a seminary.

Grand Canyon University is at a crossroads. For more than 35 years, Dr. Mike Baird has lived the spectrum of life at GCU. And now he has announced his retirement.

He will leave a crater that is not truly fillable. Who will plan the weekly lunches on Thursdays? Who will organize the all-faculty end-of-the-year lunch at Pappadeaux or Bobby Q’s? Who will represent the College of Theology on his committees related to faculty leadership and scholarship? Who will say “So far, so good”?

“[An elder] must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9)

Qualifications for ministers are listed in several New Testament passages, including 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1, and at every point they are rigorous to say the least. Why, then, are the qualifications for ministers so demanding?

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University.
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